REAL LIFE
From the Issue #24
SPECIAL SERIES: AIDS in AFRICA
Star Powered Charities
Celebs out to make a difference
By Surya Bhattacharya
United
Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR)
Star power: Angelina
Jolie
Helping hands: The UNHCR is a UN agency that
helps almost 20 million refugees in more than 120 countries around
the world. Angelina's involvement with UNHCR began with a mission
to Sierra Leone, a small African country that – like the
Democratic Republic of the Congo – has been devastated by
years of brutal civil war. Seeing first-hand the enormous challenges
that refugees face was a life-altering experience for Angelina,
who decided to use her fame to aid their cause. In 2001, she was
named a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador,
Angelina uses her status as a superstar to generate media coverage
about the plight of refugees and the conditions under which they
live. She has travelled widely to remote refugee camps and receiving
centres in countries including Tanzania, Namibia, Cambodia, Pakistan,
Thailand, and Ecuador. To further raise awareness, she has released
her personal journals for select field visits that can be accessed
at www.usaforunhcr.org.
YouthAIDS
and Aldo
Star
power: Avril Lavigne, Pink,
Ludacris, Adrien Brody, Naomi Campbell, Brittany Murphy, Kelly
Rowland
Helping hands:
YouthAIDS is an HIV/AIDS education and healthy behaviour. The
organization uses pop culture, music, theatre, and sports to reach
600 million young people in more than 60 countries.
Make a difference: You can get involved
by organizing a YouthAIDS event in your community.
Visit www.youthaids-aldo.org.
Children with AIDS Charity
Star power: Coldplay,
John Travolta, J.K. Rowling, Donald Trump
Helping hands: Rebecca Mandel, who was infected
by HIV through a blood transfusion during her second pregnancy,
set up this UK-based charity. The charity works on promoting education
and information about pediatric HIV/AIDS.
Make a difference: You can raise awareness through
the Make a Child Smile campaign, which aims to remove the stigma
that surrounds HIV. The charity collects signed auction items
to raise funds and collects other essentials for kids and their
families.
M.A.C.
AIDS Fund
Star power: Pamela
Anderson, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliott
Helping hands: Established in 1994 by M.A.C Cosmetics,
the M.A.C AIDS Fund supports men, women, and children affected
by HIV/AIDS globally. Introducing its first VIVA GLAM lipstick
that same year, M.A.C decided that every cent of the selling price
of the VIVA GLAM lipsticks would go to the M.A.C AIDS Fund. M.A.C
Cosmetics has provided over $65 million (US) to date for the M.A.C
AIDS Fund.
Star voice: “M.A.C VIVA GLAM V is a great
campaign to be involved with. I feel privileged and empowered
to help raise funds and awareness of the importance of getting
tested. Only then can you make informed and wise decisions for
your health and life. Everyone, everywhere, has to get tested.
Knowing helps stop spreading the disease that has no cure... yet.”
— Pamela Anderson
Oxfam's Make Trade Fair
Campaign
Star power:
Snow Patrol,
Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, Gael Garcia Barnal
Helping hands: Celebrities advocate fair trade
laws through Oxfam, dedicated to finding lasting solutions to
poverty, suffering, and injustice.
Make a difference: Look for fair trade labels
on food, and pressure your local grocery to supply products that
adequately compensate farmers for their crops.
Check out www.maketradefair.com
for more information.
More coming soon...
To
learn more or to get involved yourself, check out:
www.unicef.ca
Unicef Canada has tons of information if you want to get involved
through school, with
the aid of your parents and teachers.
www.stephenlewisfoundation.org
Stephen Lewis is the U.N. Secretary General's Special Envoy on
HIV/AIDS in Africa but his love and concern for Africa started
way back in the 1960s when he was a teacher. He was also the Canadian
ambassador to the United Nations in the 1980s. Now he travels
extensively across Africa to bring attention to women and children
ravaged by the pandemic of HIV/AIDS.
www.unaids.org
The Joint United Nations Programme for HIV/AIDS brings
attention to HIV/AIDS causes worldwide.
www.acdi.cida.gc.ca
Canadian International Development Agency, committed to awareness
and action in helping the developing world. Check out their site
for info.
Produced
with the support of the Government of Canada through the Canadian
International Development Agency (CIDA).
